KANSAS CITY – The final NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Top-25 Poll and 32-team Championship Bracket were announced on Wednesday, with Marian and Saint Francis learning their position in the upcoming tournament in Sioux City, Iowa from March 8 through March 14.

No. 4 Marian (30-3) automatically qualified for a defense of its national title with a second-straight Crossroads League Championship. The Knights won the regular season and tournament titles in the CL and took the top-seed in the Cramer Bracket. MU will open against eighth-seeded and unranked Olivet Nazarene on Thursday, March 9 at 1:00 pm (ET).

Saint Francis (18-15), which received votes in the final poll, punched its ticket to Nationals by advancing to the finals of the CL Tournament. The Cougars went 13-6 over their final 19 games and claimed the seventh-seed within the Liston Bracket. USF will open the action in Sioux City with a 9:30 am (ET) clash with No. 6 and second-seeded Davenport on Wednesday, March 8.

Huntington (15-16) also garnered votes in the final regular season poll after closing its season with a heart-breaking loss at USF in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals.

Fans can follow Marian, Saint Francis and the entire tournament by visiting the NAIA Tournament Championship Central page.